Larger fines for the rubbish droppers

Published Thursday 7 March 2019People caught illegally and irresponsibly dropping rubbish on the borough’s streets are set to be hit with larger fines from next month (1 April 2019).

Ealing Council has announced that it will be increasing on-the-spot fines for dropping cigarette butts, dog fouling and fly-posting from £80 to £150. The announcement comes after the government increased the maximum penalty charge that can be given to those caught dropping rubbish.

With littering and fly-tipping continuing to cost a huge amount of money and resources, the council has committed to imposing the highest possible fine to offer the strongest deterrent and ensure offenders bear the brunt of the clean-up costs – not council tax payers. It means that from April the council’s contractor Kingdom will start serving the new £150 littering fines to those caught littering or fly-tipping on the borough’s streets.

Councillor Mik Sabiers, cabinet member for environment and highways said: “The vast majority of residents want to see us take tough action against the minority that drop litter and fly-tip on our streets. Increasing the fine for littering to £150 - the maximum allowed by law - will help us make sure it is these offenders and not the local community that bear the cost of keeping our streets and roads clean.

“Everyone has a part to play in helping to keep our streets clean and there is no excuse for dropping litter or cigarette butts, or spitting on the street.

“Remember, a simple fine for littering can escalate into a criminal record and a fine of hundreds of pounds. It’s much easier to simply do the decent thing and put your rubbish and cigarette butts in the bin in the first place.”

It costs the council almost £3million each year to clean up streets and parks, remove litter and enforce against fly-tipping. The council is working across the borough to crack down on fly-tipping, targeting areas that have experienced sustained levels of illegal rubbish dumping. It involves working with residents, businesses and the wider community to tackle the problem by making it easier to report any witnessed incidents.

Pictures of offenders caught on camera fly-tipping are being displayed locally to help people recognise alleged offenders and ensure they are fined and increased enforcement is also operating in the area.